Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 8407, John Elsworth, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Elsworth, John
S 8407
carded
CONTENTS

New York 14/76
John Elsworth
Chenango in the State of New York who was a Private in the Comp y commanded by Captain Gilbert - of the Reg t - commanded by Col. Lasher - in the N. York line for 18 Months
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 60 Dollars — Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 14 th day of May 1833 - and sent to John C Clark Cambridge Chenango N.Y.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833. $120.00 Semi-ann. allowance ending 1/2 yr 1833. 30
$150.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Not June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by George Taylor Clerk Book 6 Vol. 3 Page 18

Declaration in order to obtain the Privileges of the act of Congress Passed June 7 th 1832
State of New York
Chautauqua County ss. On this 17 th day of October 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Judges of the Court of the Sixth Circuit of said State of New York, and now held at the Court house in Norwich in & for said County of Chautauqua John Elworth a resident of Bangsboro in said County aged thirty five years who being first duly sworn according to his oath on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the Privileges of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832
That he entered the service of the United States in the follow- ing named officers and a full as having stated.
That in April or May 1775 in the City of New York, he entered as a Volunteer in Captain William N. Gilberts Company of Light Infan- try Volunteers in Colonel John Sash- ers Regiment. Andrew Stockholms was 1 st Lieutenant, Myrian Tarrant was 2 d Lieutenant. That he contin- ued as a private soldier in said Com- pany, in said City, for one year doing his duty as a faithful soldier. He was daily in the arms, was employed constantly, mounting guard & on fatigue duty & on scouting parties. He was called minute men, and was always ready at a moments call

to go on any required service. That he was on guard on the night that British Frigate or Ship Asia fired upon the City, That he was often, on parties scoping the Air affected. That he faithfully served in said Com- pany for twelve months & was hon- orably discharged at New York. That he was verbally dismissed, No written discharges were to his recollection, giving -
That on the first day of June 1776 he enlisted in the same Company for six months, He enlisted at New York City. Shortly after this enlistment Captain Gilbert resigned and he was succeeded by Anab- Stockholm. Dasher was still Colonel The Brigade was commanded by John Morrin Scott. That he was actively employed during the Cam- paign, in performing services sim- ilar to those mentioned in my first term, as above. I was detached about the first day of July with nine or ten others & placed under the command of Captain Ralph Shurman. I went with said detachment in a flat bottom iron boat, armed with a four pound gun, to guard an inlet below the New Jersey shore and Staten Island. Two armed vessels of the enemy came into the inlet - We opened fire on the Jersey shore, and exchanged a number of shots with theirrifles. Night came on & we retreated with our cannon about two miles. The next morning we returned with the intention of burning the boat - But

the firing from the enemy's vessels prevented - we then returned to the City of New York - That in the latter part of August he went with his regiment to Long Island where he was on guard at an out post on the nights of the 26 th & 27 th of August, the time the battle commenced was about day light in the morning of the 27 th General Sullivan, and a striking column dealt the American forces. That he joined his regiment as soon as he could after the commencement of the firing and that he with his reg- iment retreated from the said Island to the City on the night of the 29 th / morn- ing of the 30 th . That he continued as such soldier in his regiment until he & said Regiment retreated from the City of New York on the 15 th day of Septem- ber, to Kingsbridge, where he remained with said Regiment, until the British Army landed on Froggs neck about the 12 th day of October. About the 23 rd of October our army left Kingsbridge and went to White Plains. That he with one hundred others was left under the Command of Col Gashew at Kings- bridge. That he then staid a few days. By command of the Col the barracks were burned & bridges taken up. That he then crossed York Island to Fort Washington & from thence crossed the North River to the Jersey shore & then marched up to Haverhaw & from thence to Peekskill, from thence on our way to join the Regiment, when we were met by an express and ordered back to Peekskill. That we returned to the

latter place, That he remained there having been joined by the Regiment until the 11 th of March last, That he then crossed over to Haaststraten, and was there discharged about the 1 st day of March 1776 having fully served the period of my enlistment.
The discharge was signed by Frederick Heynets, then acting Captain. The Captain not then being with the regiment. This discharge is lost or destroyed. I have no other unitary evidence of my service.
Neither do I know of any person living by whom I can prove they or any part of them. General Scott Colonel Asher Captain after Col Stock holm & Lieut Heynets are all dead.
I have stated in what manner I entered the Service How I was discharged.
I was born in the City of New York on the 30 th day of November 1756.
I have a record of my age in my family Bible Taken from my father's family Records now in my possession.
I continued to live in New York till 1803. I then removed to Tompkins Delaware County & State of New York where I lived till March 1818, when I removed to Cambridge where I have ever since resided know reside.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or

annually except the present, and declared that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the agency of any State. That he is well known to Levi Bigelow and Jotham Pixley of Brimfield of course who are testify as to my character, as to my age and as to the belief in the neigh- borhood of my having been a Sol- dier of the Revolution as to their own belief of the same
Swon & Subscribed } John Elsworth This 17 th day of October } 1832 } Gloster County } Circuit Judge }
We Levi Bigelow & Jotham Pixley residents of the town of Brimfield County of Chenango and State of New York hereby certify that We are well acquainted with John Elsworth who has subscribed & sworn to the foregoing declaration, that we be- lieve him to be formerly five years of age That he is reputed and believed in the neigh- borhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the the Revolution & that we con- cur in that opinion, & that he is a man of Credibility. This statement are entitled to belief,
Swon & Subscribed } Levi Bigelow This 17 th day of October } Jotham Pixley 1832 } V. B. Miele } Dep. Clerk }

That the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investi- gation of the matter and after putting the interrogatory, presented by the War Department, that the above named appli- cant was a Revolutionary soldier as as- serted as he states, and the Court further certifies that it appears to them, that Levi Bigelow & Jonathan Dixby are Residents in the Town of Rainbridge County of the State of New York, & who have signed the preceding certificate, are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, Jarvis H. Pike Clerk of the said Circuit Court do hereby Certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of John Elsworth for a Pardon.
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal of the said Court this 17th day of October 1832.
P. B. Rundle Dep. Clerk

Tenison applied
15900
John Elsworth
Paint bridge
Chenango
N. York
aa aak
J. C. Clark
same place

15900
John Elsworth Chenango county New York
   Resid. Duration of Service. Name of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years. Months. Days.     1  
John L. Clark Bainbridge N.Y.
mentioned. X CERTIFIED that the foregoing statement and the answers given with the evidence in the case of the...

BRIEF in the case of  John Elsworth  of  Chenango co  in the State of  New York  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 75  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     Volunteer In 1775 minute men 1776 1 6 employed constantly As a private do Capt Gilbert, Col Lasher same company Capt Stockholme Frederick Stymet    
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Long Island  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? city of New York  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? tradition  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Comet seal on each sheet 
I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
J. G. Bradford. Examining Clerk.

July 14, 1939.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Miss Dorothy Evans 410 Hudson Avenue Albany, New York
BA-J/ady Our John Elsworth S.8407
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter relative to John Elsworth, a soldier of the Revolutionary War.
The data contained herein were obtained from the papers on file in the Revolutionary War claim for pension, S.8407, based upon the military service of John Elsworth in that war.
John Elsworth was born November 30, 1756, in New York City. The names of his parents are not shown.
While a resident of New York, New York, John Elsworth enlisted in April or May 1775, and served one year as private in Captain William W. Gilbert's Company, Colonel John Lasher's New York Regiment. He enlisted June 1, 1776, served six months as private under Captains William W. Gilbert and Ralph Thurman in Colonel John Lasher's New York Regiment and was in the battle and retreat from Long Island.
He moved from New York City in 1803 to Tompkins, Delaware County, New York, and in May 1818 he moved to Bainbridge, New York.
He was allowed pension on his application executed October 17, 1832, at which time he was a resident of Bainbridge, Chenango County, New York.
There are no family data.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name of person paid and possibly the death date of soldier, you should apply to the

Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, Washington, D. C. and cite the following data: "John Elsworth, certificate No. 14175, issued May 11, 1833, rate $60.00 per annum, commenced March 4, 1831, Act of June 7, 1832, New York Agency".
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator

In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of John Elsworth a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his ( or his widow's ) application for pen- sion on file in this Bureau. S. 8407
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     aph. May 75 1 year William M. Gilbert John Lasher N.Y.   June 1 76 6 mos William M. Gilbert ✓   John Morris Scott ✓   Ralph Thurman ✓  
Battles engaged in, Long Island. Residence of soldier at enlistment, N.Y. City. Date of application for pension, Oct. 17, 1832 His claim was allowed. Residence at date of application, Bainbridge, Chenango Co., N.Y. Age at date of application, born Nov. 30, 1756, in New York City. Remarks: There is no family data on file.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

L. W. B. I. 8407.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
WASHINGTON, D. C.,
May 28, 1897.
O. W. & N. DIV.
REVOLUTIONARY.
and the possession file in the War Depart- and other records in the Revolution- also be found on file in the many of the original States.
Madam:-
Replying to your request for information concerning John Elsworth, a soldier of the Revolutionary war, you are advised that he made an application for pension on October 17, 1832, at which time he was 75 years of age and residing at Bainbridge, N. Y., and his pension was allowed for eighteen months' actual service as a private in the New York troops, Revolutionary war; a part of the time he served under Capt. Gilbert and Col. Lasher. He enlisted at New York City.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.
Mrs. James P. Thomson,
Somers, Westchester Co., N. Y.
Box 13.

410 Hudson Avenue Albany, New York May 11, 1939
Veterans Administration Washington, D. C. Dear Sir:
Will you please send me the Revolutionary War service record of John Elsworth , who served in New York State and received a pension in Chemung County, New York. I would also like family data if any is given.
Thanking you.
(Miss) Dorothy Evans

Elgin, Ill. Jan. 16, 1906.
The Commissioner of Pensions Washington, D.C.
My dear Sir:
About two weeks ago I wrote to you requesting some information regarding a pensioner of the Revolutionary War; but having received no reply, I infer that my letter went astray, and therefore venture to write again.
My request was this: that you grant me a certificate of the service of one John Ellsworth Jr.

My great great grandfather, who was, according to private family records, a private soldier in the Army of Captain Jacobus Van Zandt, Colonel John Lasher's 1st Battalion, of Independent Companies, New York Troops of the Continental Army, Revolutionary War.
This John Ellsworth, Jr. was the son of John Ellsworth, was born Nov. 30, 1756, married to Margaret King, Oct. 15, 1778, and died at Cambridge N.Y., July 14, 1844.
He received a pension from March 4 th , 1831, to March 4, 1844.

I am desirous of becoming a member of the Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, and a condition of membership is that the candidate furnish an official certificate of the service of his ancestors.
I am referred to you for such certificate, both by the officials of that Society, and by the Military Secretary at Washington.
Thanking you in advance for such information as you may be able to furnish me. I am,
Very respectfully, J. H. Dennis Pastor of the Church of the Redeemer, Elgin Ill.

Elgin, Ill. Jan 5, 1906.
U. S. Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D.C.
My dear Sir:
I respectfully apply to you for a certificate of service in the Revolutionary War, of one John Ellsworth, Jr., who was a private in Capt. Jacobus Van Gandt's Company, Col. John Lasher's 1 st Battalion of Independent Companies of N.Y. troops.
John Ellsworth Jr. was born in N.Y. City Nov. 30, 1756, died at Bainbridge N.Y. July 14, 1844,

and drew a pension from March 4, 1831 to March 4, 1844. His wife's name was Margaret (King) Ellsworth.
I apply for the certificate of service in order to qualify myself for membership in the Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, John Ellsworth Jr. having been my great-great grandfather.
Thanking you in advance for the favour, I am
Very respectfully, Isaac Herbert Dennis Rector of the Church of the Redeemer.

Elgin, Ill. #383 Chicago St.
Data from card.

Pierrepont House C Brooklyn N. Y.
To, Department of the Interior Bureau of Pensions Washington D. C.
May Second. 97.
OL. MAY ET.II.
Dear Sir,
Yours received. I thank you very much. have filled out this paper to the best of my ability and hope it will secure the statement we are anxious to secure. I change my address this week. from this "Hotel" to be out of town for six month. Yours.
address Box 13.
Mrs James P. Thomson Somer's Westchester Co New York

O. W. & N. DIV.
Department of the Interior,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
Washington, D. C. Apr. 28, 1897.
Respectfully returned to the writer, who is requested to furnish, for purposes of identification, as much as possible of the information called for below.
[Handwritten signature: D. A. [unclear]] Commissioner.
Full name of soldier:
John Ellsworth Jr
Place of residence before service:
(Town, county, and State, if possible.)
New York City, N. Y.
Place of residence after service:
(Town, county, and State, if possible.)
Bainbridge Clinton N. Y.
Date of death (as near as possible):
July 14, 1844.
Christian name of widow:
Margaret King
Did either he or his widow receive a pension?
John Ellsworth received Pension
Remarks: from March 4, 1831. to March 4, 1844. the sum of $60 per year. was a Private in the Reg. of Col. Lasher - Capt Van Landt.
Your name and address:
Mrs James P. Thomson Somers.
Box. 13 Westchester Co -
New Y.

May 28-97-History to Mrs. James P. Thompson Box 13-Somers Westchester, Co. N.Y.
1906 Jan 16. History to Grace H. Dennis, Elgin Dees. Mass 1914 Apl. 8. Hist. to Mrs. W.D. Martin letter in m. 16486 Christopher P. Yates 1939 July 14. Hist. to Dorothy Evans
Rev May
8407 INVALID.
File No. 8407 John Elsworth Brn. Rev. War
Act: June 7 th p 32
Index:—Vol. 102, Page 112
[Arrangement of 1870.]

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of John Elsworth of Chenango Co New York which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? yes V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? yes VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? yes

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? two citizens
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? No
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? yes
XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?
XVI. † Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? all answered
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____ For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
†QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
‡QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.